fantasy
FAN-tuh-see
Fantasy (noun) means an imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one. Example: “Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a fantasy of his.”
noun
1
An imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one.
"Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a fantasy of his."
"Owning a huge house by the sea was only a fantasy for now."
"In her fantasy, she walked on stage and received a standing ovation."
2
A genre of fiction featuring magic, imaginary worlds, and supernatural creatures.
"She loves reading fantasy novels with dragons and wizards."
"Many readers prefer fantasy to crime stories because of the imaginary worlds."
"The library has a whole shelf of fantasy with elves, spells and talking animals."
verb
1
To imagine something, usually something desired.
"He liked to fantasy about life on a tropical island."
"During the long meeting, she would fantasy about lying on a quiet beach."
"They fantasy about a life without alarm clocks."
How to use fantasy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a daydream/imagined scenario, or the genre of fiction built around magic and imaginary worlds.
Common mistake
For the verb meaning "to daydream," "fantasize" is now the standard modern form — "fantasy" as a verb sounds dated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fantasy world
fantasy novel
live out a fantasy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like fantasy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- fantasies
- Third person singular
- fantasies
- Past tense
- fantasied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a _____ of his.
Etymology
From Old French fantasie, ultimately from Ancient Greek phantasia, "imagination" — a doublet of "fancy" and "fantasia."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fantasy
See all rhymes for fantasy →Frequently asked questions
What does “fantasy” mean?
The word “fantasy” means an imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one. In plain terms, either a daydream/imagined scenario, or the genre of fiction built around magic and imaginary worlds.
How do you pronounce “fantasy”?
“Fantasy” is pronounced FAN-tuh-see ([ˈfæ̃ɾ̃əsi] in IPA).
How do you use “fantasy” in a sentence?
Here is “fantasy” used in a sentence: “Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a fantasy of his.”
What part of speech is “fantasy”?
Depending on how it is used, “fantasy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fantasy” come from?
The word “fantasy” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French fantasie, ultimately from Ancient Greek phantasia, "imagination" — a doublet of "fancy" and "fantasia.".
Is “fantasy” a common word?
“Fantasy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “fantasy” have?
“Fantasy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one.
What is the difference between fantasy and reality?
Fantasy is something imagined — a scenario that exists only in the mind, often pleasant or unrealistic. Reality is what actually exists and happens. A fantasy of winning the lottery lives in the imagination; the reality is the everyday world. The two are opposites: invented versus actual.
What is the difference between fantasy and fancy?
A fantasy is a fuller imagined scenario, often vivid or elaborate, such as daydreaming about a different life. A fancy is a lighter, more fleeting notion or liking — a passing fancy. Fantasy suggests depth and detail; fancy suggests a brief whim. Fantasia, by contrast, usually names a free-form piece of music.
What are the types of fantasy?
The word covers several senses. There are personal daydreams and wishes; the fantasy genre in books, films, and games featuring magic and imaginary worlds; and fantasy sports, where fans build imaginary teams from real players. All of them share the core idea of something imagined rather than real.
Is fantasy a good or bad thing?
Neither by nature. Fantasy fuels creativity, storytelling, and hope, helping people imagine possibilities beyond the everyday. It becomes a problem only when it replaces reality or feeds unrealistic expectations. As imagination at play, fantasy is a normal and often healthy part of how people think.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include fantasy:
